As emerging Asian countries continue economic growth, and the Japanese market shrinks in relative size, these countries are intensifying their efforts to attract overseas enterprises. As a result, multinational enterprises are withdrawing from Japan one after another, and Japan is losing its position as a key international business center in Asia.

In order to sustain Japan’s economic growth in the future, it is necessary to create measures that support the establishment by multinational enterprises of R&D centers and/or Asian headquarters in Japan. In consideration of these circumstances, METI has decided to offer this bill in the 177th ordinary session of the Diet.

The bill provides for incentives such as reduced corporate taxes and lower patent fees for new R&D projects and headquarters operations implemented in Japan by multinational enterprises certified as conforming to the basic policy defined by the competent minister.

• Outline of the “Bill on Special Measures for the Promotion of Research and Development by Certified Multinational Enterprises”(PDF:17KB)
• Full text of the "Bill on Special Measures for the Promotion of Research and Development by Certified Multinational Enterprises" (PDF:76KB)

February 10, 2011

Trade and Investment Facilitation Division, Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau